The Morning After

No, this isn’t about the election or sex or anything like that. This is about deep gratefulness.

Those who have seen my fun photo album recently of both grandchildren (11 months and 13 months) coming for a visit Nov. 1-2 know what comes next.

There is the oh-so-empty house.

The toys and books strewn here and there.

The fun of bath time with an almost-toddler. The look of glee in Sam’s eyes when I resurrect one of the girls’ old bath tubs, all cleaned up for the occasion.

The smudges on the patio door as babies now into “cruising” stand and greet the puppy eye to eye.

The house is full of poignant and throat-catching glimpses of a too-short weekend but perhaps all the more special because we can’t see our little ones or children as often as we’d like.

My mother talked about these times.

Floppy Frog seems to convey my feelings pretty well.

But I’m so grateful they are not in California or Oregon or Africa, thousands of miles away, like some of my friends’ grandkids. But if they were, I’m sure I’d find ways to adjust and to see them as often as we could.

It all goes back to when I went away from home for college, and then married a man from my new “home,” and well, you just don’t think about some of those things when you leave home for college or service or marry someone away from your home area.

I’m just so SO grateful to have grandchildren at all when I know friends and folks from church and relatives who never get to this stage.

This first year has not been easy for the parents (too personal to go into here), but they have persevered and all four parents just ROCK.

One daughter told me in leaving: “You’re the best mom and the best grandma—surprise surprise.”

Aw. I wouldn’t win any prizes but it was a nice thing to say.

A great way to start off this month of November when we all are reminded to be a little more grateful no matter what our circumstances. I love seeing the “Day of gratefulness” posts friends are sharing on Facebook etc. even though I have not done that publicly myself.

I’m reading Psalms right now and the Psalms rocket between “gloom, despair, and agony on me” and over-the-top gratefulness. On the grateful side there’s this:

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I very fortunate as I live close to my grandchildren; one lives next door and the other two are only twenty minutes away. Yet, I still don’t wipe away the precious smudges off the windows for awhile. I love seeing them there as they remind me of the small ones I love. God bless you as you both miss them and remember the fun.

We made frequent trips to Chicago to see the G-kids when they were very small. They reciprocated sometimes but considering the distance between Illinois and Florida, very expensive. I believe my connections to grandchildren would be the same, just less often, wherever they live, right now close to us fortunately.

Positive things they’ve picked up from me/us? Well, I keep harping on the attitude of gratitude, the topic of my very first blog post in February 2013. Each of the four has a gratitude book that they write and draw in. In fact, I am working on a post “At Home with Grand-kids” scheduled for later this month, including indoor games they play and a gratitude book session.

I notice our topics often mesh, being in similar phases of life, I suppose. Great post, Melodie.

So you began your blog about a month after me? I had never figured that out. It is interesting to ponder whether the connections are the same, just less often. I do think it takes effort, for sure. I’d love to sneak a peek in their gratitude books.

Loved looking at the comments from your grandkids and greatly anticipating when ours start talking. They’re mostly still babbling and vocalizing! I love that the youngest one began his gratitude journal in pictures. Very cool. A great idea for sure.

Sorry I couldn’t respond until now! Thanks for checking in –I’ve seen your photo/name before at Marian’s blog and it reminds me how much I need to get back to yoga. 🙂 After a busy company weekend and a day of illness catching up, I’m out of it! A new puppy, who thinks if I’m on the floor, it’s pounce time, doesn’t help either. But I need it!